The Colossus of Redmond Stirs Mixed Feelings
A new BW poll finds support for Microsoft -- up to a point
As the Microsoft antitrust trial opens, those technologically in-the-know continue to view the software colossus with conflicted feelings, according to the preliminary findings of a new Business Week poll.
Most think Microsoft does business in ways that basically are fair -- up sharply from the results of a Business Week poll taken six months ago. Yet half have concerns that Bill Gates's empire wields too much power. And 33% -- a somewhat higher number than in April -- believe the government should do something to regulate the company.
These polls are not directly comparable. The April, 1998, BW survey conducted by Louis Harris & Associates was conducted online, so respondents were necessarily Web users, 93% of whom said they used Microsoft products. The October Business Week poll, also conducted by Louis Harris & Associates, was done by telephone. The results reported here reflect responses only of participants who said they used Microsoft products.
One key finding: Despite the government's contining attack on Microsoft, respondents say their opinion of the company hasn't changed much. Microsoft may face the prospect of government censure or worse -- but its customers, it appears, will keep on buying.
Here are some key questions, and the results, expressed in percentages of those polled:
In general, how would you characterize Microsoft's
competitive practices?
April, 1998 October, 1998
Very fair 18 24
Somewhat fair 33 46
Somewhat unfair 30 18
Very unfair 14 8
Don't know 5 4
Do you think that Microsoft has too much, about the
right amount, or not enough economic power?
April, 1998 October, 1998
Too much 49 47
About right 45 47
Not enough 1 4
Don't know 5 2
What, if anything, should the Justice Dept. do to
address Microsoft's dominant position in the computer
software industry?
April, 1998 October, 1998
Nothing 53 55
Regulate Microsoft 23 33
Break Microsoft into
two separate companies 9 9
Don't know 15 3
As a result of the Justice Dept.'s inquiry, has your
opinion of Microsoft changed?
April, 1998 October, 1998
Much more favorable 5 5
Somewhat more favorable 7 1
No change 66 82
Somewhat less favorable 16 9
Much less favorable 4 3
Don't know 2 0
The online survey conducted in April, 1998, was from a sampling of 2,587 respondents.
The October, 1998, results are based on a telephone survey of 753 adults conducted Oct. 14-19 for Business Week by Louis Harris & Associates.
Edited By Keith Hammonds in New York
Read Business Week's analysis of the Microsoft trial every night Monday through Thursday, for the duration of the case
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